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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the child actors/tresses on soaps must be totally fucked up?

33 replies

UseHerName · 10/05/2013 23:24

i mean totally fucked up

think amy in tonight's eastenders? 'the bad man' and the long list of other random people?

the fighting while they're in the arms of other actors?

how does that work then?

OP posts:
PaWithABra · 10/05/2013 23:29

I think that female actors prefer to be called 'actors' these days. I could be wrong though

Original poster
UseHerName · 10/05/2013 23:38

really? all of them? every single one?

i was using both terms to account for difference and the fact they are children and generally not self-defined, so by the time they can define themselves 'actress' might have fallen back into favour what with language being an ever shifting medium

soooo....back to any thoughts on how this might fuck up 'children-who-are-in-soaps'

for lack of a better phrase

OP posts:
ArmyOfPenguins · 10/05/2013 23:40

I've been worried about Amy in Eastenders for ages!

LittleNutTree · 10/05/2013 23:41

I sometimes wonder this about kids who are in horror films and the like, especially in the cases when they aren't even able to see the film themselves because of the age cert! Confused

Original poster
UseHerName · 10/05/2013 23:42

army did you see tonight's??

OP posts:
manicinsomniac · 10/05/2013 23:43

why would you call an actress an actor? I'm a performing arts teacher and have never come across this. Call everyone actors and you have to specify gender along with it. The Oscars etc still have best supporting actress and all that right?

Anyway, I think YABU OP - children in the performing world are very carefully guided and educated about what they are exposed to and they know it isn't real. In some situations they may become more worldly wise and exposed to things that it would be better if they hadn't been but careful handling is the key.

Some end up fucked up I know - but I think this is down to individual upbringing and personality rather than what they are exposed to.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 10/05/2013 23:45

Haven't seen Eastenders tonight but in alot of scenes you can tell by the way the filming is 'cut' that the scene with the child is done independantly and 'spliced' in.

I can't abide the wooden acting of some of the children (and yes I know they are only children ) but it doesn't add to the scene at all.

ArmyOfPenguins · 10/05/2013 23:45

No, I haven't seen it yet. I suppose I am about to get more worried?

Original poster
UseHerName · 10/05/2013 23:47

that's really interesting insominac

some of the domestic dispute scenes reminded me of some of the domestic rows that my dd witnessed at amy's age-are the children taught to differentiate/is it presented to them as a game??

amy is maybe 3/4 for those who dont watch

OP posts:
Original poster
UseHerName · 10/05/2013 23:52

and of course there's splicing-esp evident when there's a baby crying

OP posts:
FrogInABog · 10/05/2013 23:53

Remember they are on a set, surrounded by cameras, in a cut out room with loads of people nearby most likely laughing and joking between scenes, and their parents there often. Things stopping and starting while being filmed and knowing the.actors out of character will also mean it won't seem at all real.

KobayashiMaru · 10/05/2013 23:55

Stop watching that shit and eventually there won't be any actors of any kind needed for soaps.Do us all a favour.

Original poster
UseHerName · 10/05/2013 23:56

insightful contribution there maru Grin

OP posts:
PaWithABra · 10/05/2013 23:56

use her name

as a 'performing arts teacher' you really ought to be up to speed.

a quick google brings up many discussions on the issue.

eg

forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=607233

PaWithABra · 10/05/2013 23:59

the gaurdian even

www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2011/sep/25/readers-editor-actor-or-actress

Original poster
UseHerName · 11/05/2013 00:01

pawithabra-im not a performing arts teacher-insomniac is...

Grin
OP posts:
Fluffypinkcoat · 11/05/2013 00:01

I wondered this the other night when Janine was holding Scarlett and saying "there! See how much your daddy doesn't love you?" or whatever she said. What if the baby thinks she means it? :'(

Booyhoo · 11/05/2013 00:02

call actors actors because why do you need to specify gender?

as for best actor/best actress? why 2 awards? (more revenue i suppose)

why not just best actor? and let it be decided upon talent not gender.

Lj8893 · 11/05/2013 00:03

Hmm, I can see why some may prefer to be called an actor but I would call myself an actress (never really thought about calling myself an actor!)

Original poster
UseHerName · 11/05/2013 00:04

yes fluffy!!! just that sort of thing

OP posts:
PaWithABra · 11/05/2013 00:06

soz use her name..

can read and i have been drinking

AgnesBligg · 11/05/2013 00:06

the actors I know prefer 'actor'.

I like seeing the very small ones staring somewhere just left of camera where clearly mummy is standing. Or the gormless starey-eyed ones that have 'screaming tot' soundtrack.

I love Bian'a's daughter.

Original poster
UseHerName · 11/05/2013 00:08

me too bra-it's a concentrated effort to type on the old phone with fat tipsy fingers Grin

OP posts:
MrsLion · 11/05/2013 07:15

One of my friends was a well known child actor- she's not fucked up at all. Now a mum, 3 young children, lovely dh. She is very driven and extremely ambitious. Now a solicitor, but no more fucked up than anyone else.

I did read somewhere trashy that the little girl who was in the Poltergeist films (I'm showing my age) needed psychological treatment after those movies...

turkeyboots · 11/05/2013 07:20

Read an article about the girl who plays Sally Draper in Mad Men. She is totally protected from anything unsuitable appearntly and has never seen the show apart from her scenes.